original greek products

Is there anyone who still haven't tried greek olives?

If so, you really don't know what you're missing!
Especially when we talk about the Kalamon olives that Anna and Thania carefully choose and then, using an old greek recipe, turn into a unique aromatic product.

I tried it yesterday, at the 6th Annual Exhibition of Laconic Products that takes place these days in Syntagma Metro Station, and absolutely loved it!

Going against the economic crisis Anna (right) and her sister did exactly the opposite of what most people do: they both left their jobs and started their own business.

"We wanted to deal with something more natural, traditional and authentic" tells me Anna. "We established the "Selesia Green" company a year ago in order to promote laconic products we both love. We taste everything and use only the best olives, olive oil and honey".

Laconia is in Peloponnese and its capital is Sparta that gave birth to the brave 300 of Leonidas. "We borrowed the name of Selesia village which is close to Sparta. We visited this place once and fell in love with people, food and nature. Everything's still so pure" says Thania (below).

www.selesiagreen.gr/en/

" This vase of bulbs costs 10euros. It's very tiring getting them off the ground. My hands always hurt. Ι have to use a hoe. After picking them up, I put the bulbs in balsamic, add water and salt and they are ready. If you pure some oil it's delicious. Ι also sell chamomile, sage, tea and various spices I pick up myself from mountain Parnon". Eleni, Kalithea village, Sparta

Just beyond, Dimitris (in the middle) sells pasteli, a greek delicacy made of sesame and honey. "It's a recipe my family use for over a century. My great-great grand father started serving pasteli in the traditional coffee shop that my father runs today. I decided to introduce it to the market. Everyone loves it".
Dimitris Tritakis, Agios Nicolaos, Sparta
dtritakis@gmail.com

Handmade pasta and lalagia (crispy fried dough strips with cinnamon and cloves)

salt pork and sausages from Mani

handmade diples by Maria Kamarinou from beautiful Monemvasia

Tsolias and Amalia

Today, Greeks all over the world celebrate the Day of Independence. The March 25 of 1821 is celebrated as the first day of the greek revolution against the ottoman rule. This day was chosen to set up on the day of Annunciation symbolizing the redemption of the greek nation.

Αfter the war was over and some more social and political adventures, in 1833, Greeks welcomed the first King of Greece.

Otto was the second son of Crown Prince and later King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and Theresa, daughter of the Duke of Altenburg Sazen.

He was chosen by England, France and Russia and he was only 17 when he first arrived in Greece.

Two weeks later, Otto replaced the previous greek currency "Phoenix" with "drachma" which, 'till then, was not in use for nearly 2000 years.

In 1834, he moved the capital of Greece from Nafplio to Athens where he constructed a whole new city.

Before the greek revolution, Ottomans had turned the remains of the Parthenon into mosque and the Acropolis into an ottoman neighborhood full of houses.

The Old Palace in Athens, today's House,was built at the expense of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, as a personal loan to his son Otto. The foundation stone was laid in 1836 and Otto moved in with his wife Amalia in 1843.

Following his wife's advice, he also selected the costume of "tsolias" to be the greek national costume.

The foustanela (skirt) was made by 400 rectangular triangles fabrics that symbolize the 400 years of ottoman rule, sewn together with oblique straight.

On the upper part of the body, Otto's tsoliades wore the "meintani", a tight vest buttoned to the neck. Over this one wore a second tight but shorter vest with long sleeves that were open to the inner side, the "fermelis".

Small lethal weapons were usually hidden under the wide vest.

Before "tsarouhi", tsoliades wore "videla" a kind of patent leather shoes and above them wore a kind of leggings called "touzloukia".

Queen Amalia also chose the female national costume of modern Greece. She and her husband hoped that costume could be a way to come closer to greek people.

The female national costume is an inspiration of Amalia and bears her name. It consists of patchy - Greek and foreign-elements.

Over her vienneze-fashioned dress she wore a tight kind of jacket that is inspired by the "kavadi" of the Karagounes of Thessaly.Over the "kavadi" she added the "zimpouni" which is a costume element in many greek islands.

The fez is also characteristic in "Amalia's" costume . The rich tassel is typical of married women and single women wore another type of hat, the "kalpaki".

By the beginning of the 20th century, national costumes had already a more simplified form and were part of everyday wardrobe until the 1930s.

Today, the costume of tsolias is worn mainly by children, in special occasions and the members of the Presidential Guard, theathenians.blogspot.gr/2013/03/tsoliades-in-brussels.html

The school parade in Athens

Earlier, hudreds of students marched in the annual school parade in view of tomorrow's Greek National Day.

Boys and girls in traditional costumes...

...or wearing blue and white marched in the applause of people gathered in Panepistimiou Avenue to attend the school parade.

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This year though, the parade was shorter and people was hardly more than the 4.000 policemen that circled the whole area.

In fact, it was very difficult to reach the parade 'cause most streets in the center were closed. Security measures were extremely high in order to avoid possible protests and attacks against politicians as it happened in previous parades. Only officials were allowed to reach Syntagma and simple people had only the chance to watch the end of the parade.In many cases, the police did not even allow to take pictures.

Tonia , Eleanna, Liza and Constantina (left to right) also tried to take some photos.

They all study photography and were supposed to photograph the parade as asked by their professor.

" I took great photos! Just feet and flags!" says Tonia ironically.

" Policemen told us that we have to have special license" adds Eleanna.

"All these refer to other times that no one wants to remember" comments Tonia.

"It's extreme but very interesting as a picture. All this is so new" tells me Constantina.

"People don't dare to hold our national flags 'cause they're scared of being confused with

nationalists extremists" says Giorgos.

" I paid 100 euros to get the license to be here. I sell each flag for one euro and I buy it for half. I'm not even going to make what I paid for".

" At least Cyprus dared to say NO. They are brave people. Even if they pay hard for it, Europe deserved it. But there's so much more that we can't even imagine".

"I only hope that this will end soon. Our children need to have future".

Currently, every Greek child is born with debt over 30.000 euros.

Clean Monday in Athens

In the past, the Clean Monday and the weekend before it was a chance to leave town. This year , however, for many people it was only a chance for a plate of food from the festive table set up several municipalities in Athens.

photo: www.newsbeast.gr

Athenians hardly left town this year and only few had the chance to go out for the traditional lunch .

Some people just took a walk on the pedestrian areas of Thissio.

Schools were closed and children enjoyed playing carelessly.
Some were wearing their carnival costume for the last time this year.

Of course, there were not flying kites on the sky and the only ones around were those street sellers had in hand.

The Clean Monday is the first of 40 days before the Greek Orthodox Holly Week.

At the Fish Market of Athens

There's only one more day left until the Clean Monday and the Fish Market is crowded.

Clean Monday or else Pure Monday or Ash Monday is the first day of the Greek Orthodox Easter and lent begins the best way.

Prices are about 40% cheaper than last year but still everyone's very thoughtful before buying anything.

" They come, look around and go. They don't buy anything" says Vaggelis.

" People have not money. Look at their hands. Most of them hold nothing or just a little bag".

" I don't know where they're taking us but I trust none of them(:politicians). I see no light. Just chaos".

As I go on looking around someone calls me:
"Hey, you! Take a picture of me too".

I turn around and face Tania. This girl is so smiling and friendly. She comes from Bulgaria but grew up in Athens.

She's 21 years old and quite recently, she managed to get a job at the central fish market of Athens. She's very excited about that.

"I feel so very lucky to have a job now days" she says.

" I've only been working for less than six months and I love it though it's hard. I work over 12 hours per day starting at five in the morning but I don't care. It's hard for everyone and for some people it's even worse".

"Things have turned more difficult during the last years but I believe in Greece.
It may take some time but we'll finally make it. Life will eventually go back to normal".

The fish market is on 42, Athena's street.

It's part of the municipal market which was built in 1886 and currently, hosts over 70 food businesses.